Meek, Mizo Mute
I don’t talk back
against others
Teachers, parents nor elders
I was taught of Virtues
that must surrender speech
and humility that must kill
the questions I hold within.
I walk on Ideals
set forth by others
Modesty, Patience, Quietness
Humility, Gratitude, Kindness
I was taught by rote
Verses prescribed
for my body and soul
So I won’t ever bother
Or ever question why
I must learn these rules
And never ask those reasons why
I don’t talk forth
before others
Questions, answers, and rebuttals
Critique seems rude
I shy away from truths
Meek, Mizo, Mute
“Humility is my Pride” is an interesting collection of poems by the poet, Opa. Amongst his works, the poem “Meek, Mizo, Mute”, presents the world in this introspective and self-admonishing manner. The title is an alliterative play which drives his point deeper, starting with Meek, the ideal attribute. Mentioning “Mizo” his identity after, and then “Mute” the devastating collateral of the desired meekness.
The book itself a wonderful array of free verse poems of introspections, reflections, for his muse and jarring critiques of the society he lives in. The book’s title “Humility is my pride” plays on the virtues of the Mizo community, highlighting “Tlawmngaihna”(self-denial). Opa succesfully turns this on its head and critiques these accepted virtues and shows us of the underbelly of Mizo ethics.
The poem’s central argument is that virtues – Modesty, Kindness, Patience, Quietness – are not merely taught but weaponized as tools of social control. The violent language “must kill/the questions I hold within” alludes at the violence needed for control and the line “Verses prescribed for my body and soul” is an important escalation, the social control isn’t just mental, it’s somatic, dictating physical conduct and inhabiting the very “body”. This connects directly to the performance of meekness. These ideals and performances become a “rote” lesson, a script that suppresses critical thought “I won’t ever bother/Or ever question why”
The theme of holding the tongue, not speaking is repeated intentionally “I don’t talk back”, “I don’t talk forth” as the ending’s climax is reached with “I shy away from truths/Meek, Mizo, Mute”. The self-consciousness of the poem, their awareness of the control and coercion that happens in the community in social life shows an internal dialectic battle against his knowledge of truths that are recognizable and nearby, and then shunning them for the sake of the virtues implied, taught and practiced. The poet succeeds in expressing his awareness and his inability to speak out as well.
The form acts as a critical tool in the poem. Rigid, repetitive chant-like structure show an embodiment of control that mirror the “role” learning and enforced mental discipline that the poem critiques. The form itself feels prescribed.
The poet, while acknowledging his awareness, does not show overt struggle against the coercion – the violence that took his freedom. Considering the situation, the poem being given birth under such conditions, subversion as soft and strategic as this may be considered noting.
